For the third consecutive week, a new team finds itself atop BetMGM’s odds to win the Super Bowl. In the midst of a blistering six-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Rams take over the top spot after surpassing the Philadelphia Eagles. Riding the hot hand of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is the current NFL MVP favorite, the Rams now possess the top seed in the NFC after the Eagles lost in Dallas.
With consistent shake-ups at the top of the odds board throughout the season, plenty of other teams remain in the mix and ready to pounce. An astounding nine teams are still sitting between +1000 and +1500 odds thanks to the lack of a clear-cut favorite.
Rams take over top spot from Eagles
After dominating Tampa Bay, the Rams currently sit at +425 to win the Super Bowl, elevated from second place and +600 odds the previous week. Los Angeles has been respected by oddsmakers since the preseason, but the current hot streak has catapulted the Rams to the top.
Following Week 5’s overtime loss to San Francisco, the Rams were tied for sixth at +1700 odds. Since that defeat, Los Angeles consistently looks like the most balanced team in football. The Rams haven’t trailed in a game since Oct. 12, and their defense, allowing the fewest points in the NFL (16.3 points per game), continues to make plays to accentuate Stafford’s career year.
As noted by Nate Atkins, senior writer covering the Rams for The Athletic, Los Angeles is not only winning but also beating quality opponents.
“The Rams go as their quarterback does, and as Stafford is playing like the best in the game this season, his team has started to look like the best out there, too. Los Angeles is 9-2 with six straight victories, which have come by an average margin of nearly 20 points. The surge has moved them to the NFC’s best record and the league’s best point differential at plus-127. They’ve also beaten the teams ranked second and third in point differential in the Colts and Seahawks,” Atkins said.
“In addition to a heater that has Stafford with 27 straight touchdown passes since his last interception, the Rams have found a way to turn some weaknesses into strengths. Namely, the secondary has gone from a concern spot early in the year to making plays, as they combined to intercept Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield six times over the past two games. Their play has allowed the defense to hold opponents to 10 points or less in four of the past six contests.”
Facing only two playoff hopefuls in the final six games, Los Angeles could be favored in every remaining regular-season game. Local fans are also starting to notice. So-Fi Stadium announced record attendance for each of the last two Rams home games, giving Los Angeles a stronger home-field advantage with the playoffs approaching.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Eagles (+650) blew a 21-point lead on the road at Dallas and fell to second in the odds. The Eagles were only the favorite for a week and fell from their previous +550 odds. Stunted offense in the second half doomed Philadelphia, with the Eagles once again struggling to get the running game going.
Philadelphia hosts the surging Bears on Black Friday before a Monday night tilt on the road against the Chargers. The schedule eases down the stretch.
Nine teams bunched up behind top two
With Super Bowl contenders consistently losing, there are nine other teams close in the odds that offer some intrigue if they can hit their stride during the stretch run.
Despite sitting outside a playoff spot, the Kansas City Chiefs (+1000) still find themselves as the AFC’s top team in Super Bowl odds. Kansas City perhaps saved its season with a second-half rally to beat the Indianapolis Colts in overtime — a gutsy win to push them above .500. Finally winning a one-score game for the first time this season, the Chiefs need to keep winning to even make the postseason.
Speaking of the Colts, they’re among a trio of teams sitting at +1100 odds along with the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks.
Coming off its bye, Indianapolis missed a golden opportunity to beat Kansas City. Finishing the regular season against only teams above .500, the Colts will be tested weekly before the playoffs.
Detroit dipped slightly from +900 odds after barely escaping with an overtime home win over the lowly Giants. A critical NFC North matchup against Green Bay looms on Thanksgiving with both teams chasing the first-place Bears.
Seattle stockpiled points to hold off Tennessee to move up slightly from +1200 odds. With games against Indianapolis, the Rams and San Francisco during the final stretch, the Seahawks still have work to do to earn a solid playoff seed.
The Buffalo Bills (+1200) fell to a tie for seventh with the Baltimore Ravens. An unexpected setback in Houston — playing without QB CJ Stroud — is concerning for Buffalo, which still faces Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and AFC East-leading New England in the final six weeks.
The slow climb continues for Baltimore during its five-game winning streak. An easy schedule has helped the Ravens climb back from their unexpected 1-5 start. Baltimore still plays Pittsburgh and Cincinnati (with a returning Joe Burrow) twice each while also battling Super Bowl contenders Green Bay and New England.
The Denver Broncos (+1300) were off during Week 12, but still moved up from +1500 odds. A difficult December puts Denver against Green Bay, Jacksonville, Kansas City and the Chargers in consecutive weeks to close the regular season.
Even without star running back Josh Jacobs, the Green Bay Packers (+1400) made easy work of the rival Vikings to climb from +1600. NFC North matchups against Detroit and two against Chicago highlight Green Bay’s upcoming schedule.
Shaky in a road win at Cincinnati, the New England Patriots (+1500) round out the secondary contenders. Quarterback Drake Maye remains a top-two MVP candidate but must weather a depleted offensive line that lost two starters against the Bengals. Thankfully for the Patriots, they face the struggling Giants before finally taking a late-season bye.
